Japan Shuts Out Beef From California Plant

Law360, New York (April 23, 2008, 12:00 AM EDT) -- Japan has reportedly blocked imports of beef from a National Beef Packaging Co. plant in California after finding that a box from the plant contained beef parts that may carry the risk of mad cow disease.

Japenese importer Itochu Corp. said that the box contained vertebral column, which is banned because it can carry mad cow disease, Reuters reported Tuesday.

The box was one of 700 imported to Japan last August, and no risky parts were found in the other boxes, according to the news agency....